So I needed to add a 12ga back into the collection after trading out the last couple I had, after much internal debate between the Mossberg 930 & Benelli offerings, I decided to go with the 930 SPX.
After trying to source locally with no success, I came across this particular one on Vance Outdoors (I believe it shipped out of their Hebron Oh store). I wasn't familiar with Vance, but after a quick check with my brother who is a LEO in Oh, he stated that his department gets a lot of stuff from them and they are 100% legit. So, pulled the trigger & had it transferred to QRF and that was that.
I had originally intended to keep it stock, but then I thought, Meh, What the hell - I can always take stuff off I didn't like or caused it to be too heavy.
1st up was to throw on a sling I had sitting around (5.11 2-point adjustable vtac) - and it was the right color to boot .... and you just aren't a true operator if you don't color coordinate, right?
With an empty weight of 7.75 lbs, the addition of the sling was negligible
Next up was the addition of some GG&G accessories, specific to the 930 line. I chose GG&G due to the number of available reviews and for the simple fact that I've used several of their products in the past with no issues.
1. 6 shell side saddle (part # GGG-1516)
2. Sling mount with small pic rail; GG&G calls it a Sling & flashlight combo mount (part # GGG-1622)
3. Enhanced follower (part # GGG-1440)
4. Flashlight mounting ring with .900 insert (part # GGG-1249
Obviously, none of the above parts are really necessary, but none were too expensive (other than the side saddle), however, they all add weight as quality made accessories tend to do. Fully loaded with side saddle also loaded, toss in a Sparc red dot, and she now tips the scales at nearly 11 Lbs. Yep, that extra ammo adds a lot of weight..... and it doesn't help that 4 of the shells on the saddle are 3" 00 buck
So on to the details:
The side saddle was easy to install, and as stated in several reviews I read, you must be careful to not over-tighten and compress the receiver. They do not include the blue Locktite that the instructions recommend, but already had several tubes laying around. I found that over-tightening even the slightest bit would cause the bolt to bind. This is my biggest concern currently and I won't rely on this for HD until I have time to go to the range and put enough rounds through it to verify I have the tightness dialed in to prevent cycling issues.
The "enhanced follower" is in the tube, not much to show there, just a replacement that is supposed to help prevent cycling issues; Several reviews of the 930 claim that the juncture where the Choate extension meets the tube can cause some feeding snags, so I went ahead and dropped $22 to be on the safe side.
Stock Photo:
The sling mount with the small picatinny rail and flashlight mounting ring - I had a spare Surefire sitting around (I think its 230 lumens), while it does add to the weight, I have a couple different TLRs that I could mount on the rail to reduce weight and gain the added laser, but for now, the flashlight does the job.
I didn't really need the sling connection points, but it offers two connections; I decided on this over a barrel clamp that also had a pic rail for a couple of reasons.
1. There are limited offerings when it comes to barrel clamps with attached rails & the manufacturer for the most popular version does not make one specifically for the Choate extension (they make it for a Nordic extension which is a bit larger in diameter).
2. I had planned on using a standard flashlight and it didn't make much sense to me to have a flashlight mounted so far down the barrel/tube where it would be a pain to actuate unless I added a pressure switch. With the sling/pic mount, it puts the flashlight right in front of my hand where I can easily use my thumb to depress the 2-brightness stage end-cap button; the only downside with this light is that if I want the light to stay on, I would have to twist the end cap to keep it on hands-free, but for my use, I prefer to use my thumb to actuate the momentary button and choose the brightness based upon pressure. The next option, should I seek a light that stays on with one press, would be my Fenix, but don't really see the need at the moment.
While I'm fine with the current sling connection at the front, at least I have two other options should I decide to go a different route.
Lastly, I tossed on a Sparc red dot just for kicks & giggles - it doesn't co-witness as well as I would like, but it's not likely to stick around. I will run it just to see how well the Sparc holds up to the recoil, but the stock sights are more than enough, especially with a light onboard.
The SPX comes with a "stock spacer system" that may be used to adjust the vertical position of the stock up or down, from 1/4" down to 3/8" up; I've decided I'll shoot it a good bit first and then decide if I need to change it.
So there it is, the first part of my working review of the 930 SPX; I'll update this once I get a chance to take it to the range and break it in. I'm not set on what accessories will stick around, but I do like to have options, and well, I just like playing leggos with my guns
More to follow!
After trying to source locally with no success, I came across this particular one on Vance Outdoors (I believe it shipped out of their Hebron Oh store). I wasn't familiar with Vance, but after a quick check with my brother who is a LEO in Oh, he stated that his department gets a lot of stuff from them and they are 100% legit. So, pulled the trigger & had it transferred to QRF and that was that.
I had originally intended to keep it stock, but then I thought, Meh, What the hell - I can always take stuff off I didn't like or caused it to be too heavy.
1st up was to throw on a sling I had sitting around (5.11 2-point adjustable vtac) - and it was the right color to boot .... and you just aren't a true operator if you don't color coordinate, right?
With an empty weight of 7.75 lbs, the addition of the sling was negligible
Next up was the addition of some GG&G accessories, specific to the 930 line. I chose GG&G due to the number of available reviews and for the simple fact that I've used several of their products in the past with no issues.
1. 6 shell side saddle (part # GGG-1516)
2. Sling mount with small pic rail; GG&G calls it a Sling & flashlight combo mount (part # GGG-1622)
3. Enhanced follower (part # GGG-1440)
4. Flashlight mounting ring with .900 insert (part # GGG-1249
Obviously, none of the above parts are really necessary, but none were too expensive (other than the side saddle), however, they all add weight as quality made accessories tend to do. Fully loaded with side saddle also loaded, toss in a Sparc red dot, and she now tips the scales at nearly 11 Lbs. Yep, that extra ammo adds a lot of weight..... and it doesn't help that 4 of the shells on the saddle are 3" 00 buck
So on to the details:
The side saddle was easy to install, and as stated in several reviews I read, you must be careful to not over-tighten and compress the receiver. They do not include the blue Locktite that the instructions recommend, but already had several tubes laying around. I found that over-tightening even the slightest bit would cause the bolt to bind. This is my biggest concern currently and I won't rely on this for HD until I have time to go to the range and put enough rounds through it to verify I have the tightness dialed in to prevent cycling issues.
The "enhanced follower" is in the tube, not much to show there, just a replacement that is supposed to help prevent cycling issues; Several reviews of the 930 claim that the juncture where the Choate extension meets the tube can cause some feeding snags, so I went ahead and dropped $22 to be on the safe side.
Stock Photo:
The sling mount with the small picatinny rail and flashlight mounting ring - I had a spare Surefire sitting around (I think its 230 lumens), while it does add to the weight, I have a couple different TLRs that I could mount on the rail to reduce weight and gain the added laser, but for now, the flashlight does the job.
I didn't really need the sling connection points, but it offers two connections; I decided on this over a barrel clamp that also had a pic rail for a couple of reasons.
1. There are limited offerings when it comes to barrel clamps with attached rails & the manufacturer for the most popular version does not make one specifically for the Choate extension (they make it for a Nordic extension which is a bit larger in diameter).
2. I had planned on using a standard flashlight and it didn't make much sense to me to have a flashlight mounted so far down the barrel/tube where it would be a pain to actuate unless I added a pressure switch. With the sling/pic mount, it puts the flashlight right in front of my hand where I can easily use my thumb to depress the 2-brightness stage end-cap button; the only downside with this light is that if I want the light to stay on, I would have to twist the end cap to keep it on hands-free, but for my use, I prefer to use my thumb to actuate the momentary button and choose the brightness based upon pressure. The next option, should I seek a light that stays on with one press, would be my Fenix, but don't really see the need at the moment.
While I'm fine with the current sling connection at the front, at least I have two other options should I decide to go a different route.
Lastly, I tossed on a Sparc red dot just for kicks & giggles - it doesn't co-witness as well as I would like, but it's not likely to stick around. I will run it just to see how well the Sparc holds up to the recoil, but the stock sights are more than enough, especially with a light onboard.
The SPX comes with a "stock spacer system" that may be used to adjust the vertical position of the stock up or down, from 1/4" down to 3/8" up; I've decided I'll shoot it a good bit first and then decide if I need to change it.
So there it is, the first part of my working review of the 930 SPX; I'll update this once I get a chance to take it to the range and break it in. I'm not set on what accessories will stick around, but I do like to have options, and well, I just like playing leggos with my guns
More to follow!
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